Xeon W-2104 vs Core i7-2600K
Xeon W-2104
Core i7-2600K
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Xeon W-2104 is positioned at rank 640 and the Core i7-2600K is on rank 860, so the Xeon W-2104 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W-2104
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2600K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W-2104 | Core i7-2600K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($309) | ✅ More affordable ($109) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W-2104 | Core i7-2600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+181%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($309) | ✅ More affordable ($109) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon W-2104 and Core i7-2600K
Xeon W-2104
The Xeon W-2104 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 5,530 points. Launch price was $255.
Core i7-2600K
The Core i7-2600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,484 points. Launch price was $317.
Processing Power
The Xeon W-2104 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-2600K's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon W-2104 versus 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-2600K — a 17.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-2600K (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Xeon W-2104 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-2600K uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W-2104 scores 5,530 against the Core i7-2600K's 5,484 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon W-2104. L3 cache: 8.25 MB (total) on the Xeon W-2104 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-2600K.
| Feature | Xeon W-2104 | Core i7-2600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.8 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.4 GHz+6% |
| L3 Cache | 8.25 MB (total)+3% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 5,530 | 5,484 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 707 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W-2104 uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-2600K uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W-2104 | Core i7-2600K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2066 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon W-2104) / VT-x (Core i7-2600K). The Core i7-2600K includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Xeon W-2104 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2600K targets Gaming Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-2600K rivals FX-8150.
| Feature | Xeon W-2104 | Core i7-2600K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Gaming Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon W-2104 launched at $294 MSRP, while the Core i7-2600K debuted at $317. At current prices ($309 vs $109), the Core i7-2600K is $200 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon W-2104 delivers 17.9 pts/$ vs 50.3 pts/$ for the Core i7-2600K — making the Core i7-2600K the 95% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon W-2104 | Core i7-2600K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $294-7% | $317 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $309 | $109-65% |
| Performance per Dollar | 17.9 | 50.3+181% |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2011 |
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